One of our favourite activities is exploring neighbours, especially neighbourhoods with art. Many cities and towns are now adding murals and other art forms to combat graffiti and make their living spaces more beautiful. For the most part, it works. We appreciate it and seek out these places – it is great for us tourists.
The main thing that I like about murals and street art exploring is that there is no time limit. So many places to explore have set hours and are only open at certain times or days. But when it comes to outdoor art, it is open all night long. We save art tours after when everything else is closed. After supper, there can be little to do in some tourist towns, so walking around is a great activity.
Sadly, I discovered one place that we explored a year ago is now ruined. On a recent trip where we brought my mom and daughter, I wanted to show them some of the great alleyways in Toronto that have large murals. Graffiti Alley in Toronto is a popular place to walk and see full-scale artwork on the sides of buildings. The entire alley is painted with well-drawn artwork.
Not anymore.
To my horror and disappointment, Graffiti Alley was ruined with graffiti. Some people felt that it was necessary to demolish the art of others, destroying the beauty of the place.
I decided to take my family to another location where an entire street had its garage doors painted in colourful designs.
Again, to my great disappointment, this street was also ruined with random acts of stupidity and disrespect. Art is not cheap. Art is meant to be appreciated. Art is beautiful, and in an effort to make a neighbourhood more extraordinary, somebody had to ruin it.
Sadly, some places get ruined by others and for no good reason.
It broke my heart to see the mindless destruction. I was embarrassed for the community and for taking my family to a place that has become ugly.
On the other hand, I appreciate that I got to see these artworks in their prime and appreciate the effort of those that try to improve the places around them.
Travel opens you up to so much in the world. Oftentimes, it enlightens you. But moments like this can highlight the problems that need addressing. Either way, travel is beneficial because it helped me understand that some of the things I like are appreciated by others and that some of the problems in my own community are also felt in other places. Travel can unite the world. Maybe if the vandals were able to visit other places, they too would see the beauty that is out there and not e so amp in destroying it where they live.
The pictures featured here are from our exploration over a year ago.
